Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule (unabridged) has stormed to the top of the fantasy charts at Audible.co.uk

1. Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
2. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
4. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
5. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
6. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
7. Outcast by Michelle Paver
8. Prince Caspian by CS Lewis
9. Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind
10. Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett

All the top ten are unabridged readings.

Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power, the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his campaign for dominance is the One Ring, the ring that rules them all, which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.

In a peaceful village in the Shire, Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense duty, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his custody. Frodo must depart from his home and make a hazardous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil intent.

First available in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have cherished. Steeped in unrivalled charm and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Over 100 million copies of its many editions have been sold around the world. It is now available for the first time on digital download, complete and unabridged.

Rob Inglis has a voice similar to how you imagine the great JRR Tolkien would sound. He keeps the narration neutral so as to leave a great deals still to the imagination of the listener. A very soothing listen, best when sat next to a real fire. This is once of the few opportunities you will get to hear the Lord of the Rings in its entirety.

Audiobook downloads - Visit audible.co.uk

Stephen Donaldson altered the face of epic fantasy with the release of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Thomas Covenant is struck down with a disease assumed to be eradicated; he is abandoned by his wife and son and becomes a pariah. Abandoned and despairing, Covenant falls, and is drawn into a mysterious new world, where gentle people work magic and the earth itself brings healing. He is welcomed as the reincarnation of a legendary saviour, but Covenant refuses to believe. At the end of the sixth book, as Covenant battles to save the world, he is killed, in both worlds, as Dr. Linden Avery, his horrified companion, looks on.

The Runes of the Earth was the book that every fantasy reader had been waiting for. 10 years have passed and Linden Avery thought she would never see the Land, or Covenant, again. Lord Foul has stolen her adopted son, and is unmaking the very laws of nature. The Land is in turmoil, and Lord Foul has plans for them all.

The Runes of the Earth audio-book is narrated by Anton Lesser, a British actor. As an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) he has played many of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles, including Troilus (Troilus and Cressida), Edgar (King Lear), Petruchio, Romeo and Richard III. A frequent radio contributor, he has also recorded many audio books - including much of the work of Charles Dickens - his recording of Great Expectations won him a Talkie Award. Other books range from John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Homer to contemporary novels by Robert Harris (Fatherland) and Philip Pullman.

Audiobook downloads - Visit audible.co.uk

Stephen Donaldson biography, bibliography, interviews and book reviews

The UK’s biggest audio-book web site has a fantastic array of fantasy books from all the top authors. The top 10 for May 2008 shows that Philip Pullman and Terry Pratchett transfer extremely well to audio-book - Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule is the Editor’s Pick. The links below lead to reviews on the titles (written word not audio-book). Click on the Audible.co.uk banner on the right to download these titles today.

1. Northern Lights (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
2. The Subtle Knife (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Unabridged) - Susanna Clarke
4. The Amber Spyglass (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
5. The Hobbit (Unabridged) - JRR Tolkien
6. Once Upon a Time in the North (Unabridged) - Philip Pullman
7. Wizard’s First Rule (Unabridged) - Terry Goodkind
8. Thief of Time (Unabridged) - Terry Pratchett
9. The Colour of Magic (Unabridged) - Terry Pratchett
10. Monstrous Regiment (Unabridged) - Terry Pratchett

Audiobook downloads - Visit audible.co.uk

Philip Pullman, winner of the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Award for his trilogy entitled His Dark Materials. Northern Lights is set in a parallel world alike to our own. It is the tale of a twelve-year-old called Lyra and her quest to rescue a friend and find her father, aided by her daemon, an armoured bear, and a witch-queen. Northern Lights is written and narrated with vigour and vitality by Philip Pullman and a full cast.

Audiobook downloads - Visit audible.co.uk

Philip Pullman was born on the 19th October, 1946 in Norwich, England. Pullman is best known for the series of books entitled His Dark Materials, the award winning children’s literature consisting of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

Philip Pullman biography, bibliography, interviews and book reviews
Northern Lights book review

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke read by Simon Prebble

English magicians once amazed the known world; they had fairy servants at their command, the winds, mountains, and woods were theirs to control. But by the early 1800s they have long mislaid the ability to do magic. They can only write long, dull papers about it, while fairy servants are nothing but a fading memory. Sophisticated, witty, and ingeniously convincing, Susanna Clarke’s magisterial book weaves magic into a flawlessly complete image of historical England. She has shaped a world so thoroughly enchanting that thirty two hours leave readers pining for more.

Audiobook downloads - Visit audible.co.uk

Simon Prebble is a well-known and respected author and historian. He was born on the 13th of February, 1942. He has worked with some of the world’s finest actors and played roles in many classic stage productions. On British radio, he has been an anchor, newscaster, announcer, talk show host, and writer. Simon Prebble performs outstanding narrations, the unabridged versions of authors such as Susanna Clarke.He has an amazing command of accents and can be just about anyone: male-young and old, female-young and old, child, villain.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell book review

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was shortlisted for Audible’s Listen of the Year, 2006.

Some fantasy books transfer well onto audio book, some lose their magic. FantasyBookReview.co.uk will shortly be reviewing and rating the best (and worst) fantasy audio books available in the UK today. Before we begin, here is a list of the top ten best selling fantasy audio books on Audible.co.uk this month (March 2008).

1. The Amber Spyglass - Philip Pullman
2. Making Money - Terry Pratchett
3. Northern Lights - Philip Pullman
4. The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman
5. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
6. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke
7. Children of Dune - Frank Herbert
8. Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett
9. Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett
10. The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett